Levels of β-HCH,HCB, p,p′-DDE,p,p′-DDT and PCBs in human milk from a continental town in Croatia,Yugoslavia

Summary Concentrations of -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and PCBs were determined by gas chromatography in 50 human milk samples collected from the general population during 1981/1982 in a continental town in Croatia (Yugoslavia). The samples were collected between one and 22 weeks after delivery from mothers breast-feeding one child only. The mothers' age was 18 to 31 years, and they were nursing their first or second child. All 50 samples contained -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE and PCBs, whereas p,p-DDT was present in 37 samples. The concentrations of -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and PCBs expressed on a whole milk basis were (median in g/kg): 11, 7.1, 67, 7.3 and 22 respectively, and expressed on a fat basis (median in mg/kg): 0.28, 0.21, 1.9, 0.18 and 0.62 respectively. The fat content was 3.7% (median). PCBs were present in a mixture containing penta-, hexa- and heptachlorobiphenyls.     

Concentrations and chromatographic profile of DDT metabolites and polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) residues in stranded beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence Estuary,Canada

The concentrations and high resolution gas Chromatographic profiles of DDT metabolites and polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in blubber, liver, kidney and lung tissue and milk samples of stranded beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) collected at localities along the coasts of the Saint Lawrence Estuary, Canada from November 1983 through December 1984. The analyses indicate that the major PCB components of the tissues were 2,2,5,5-tétra-, 2,2,4,4,5-penta-, 2,2,3,4,4,5-hexa-, 2,2,4,4,5,5-hexa-, 2, 2,3,3,4,5-hexa-, 2,3,3,5,5,6-hexa-, 2,2,3,4, 5,5,6-hepta- and 2,2,3,4,4,5,5-heptachlorobiphenyls. Although the highest organochlorine chemical concentrations were found primarily in the blubber, concentrations of 1.72 g/g for PCB and 2.04 g/g for DDT were determined in one milk sample. No correlation was established between PCB,p,p-DDE and DDT concentrations and the fat content of the kidney liver and lung tissues. The Chromatographie patterns of the PCB congeners were similar from one tissue to another with the exception of the kidney; the profile indicates the retention of PCB congeners which are minor components in the other tissues. Relations of residue concentrations between tissue are described and the significance of congener-specific PCB analysis is discussed in terms of the structureactivity effects on PCB persistence and toxicity.Portions of this work were presented at the Sixth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 22–26, 1985.     

Polychlorobiphenyl congeners,p,p′-DDE,and sperm function in humans

170 seminal samples from fertile men, men with idiopathic oligospermia or azoospermia and men status post vasectomy were analyzed for 74 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners,p,p-DDE, mirex, and hexachlorobenzene using the technique of glass capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Low concentrations of 32 PCB congeners were measured (mean total PCB residue of 5.8 ng/g wet weight). The application of multiple linear regression analysis to the data is described and the result is critically evaluated. There is a correlation between sperm motility and count. There are indications that the concentrations of three PCB congeners (2,4,5,245- and 2,4,5,234-hexachlorobiphenyl and 2,4,5,34-pentachlorobiphenyl) are inversely correlated with sperm motility index in samples with a sperm count less than 20 million cells/ml. The implications of the discerned associations are discussed.     

Anin vitro model for the binding of polybrominated biphenyls in environmentally contaminated blood

Spiking blood with¹⁴C-labeled 2,2, 4,4,5,5-hexabromobiphenyl (¹⁴C-HxBB) or a mixture of 2,2,4,5,5-pentabromobiphenyl, 2,2,4,5,6-pentabromobiphenyl and¹⁴C-HxBB has been found, in comparative measurements, to be a representative model of polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) contaminated blood from Michigan residents. Blood components were obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque techniques, apolipoprotein B and A fractions by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera; congeners were quantified by negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry or scintillation counting. The distribution of PBB among plasma, erythrocytes, mononucleocytes and polymorphonucleocytes was 89:9:1:1. In serum, 20% of the PBB was not bound to protein. The remaining 80% was bound to apolipoproteins B and A in a 41 ratio, which is close to the ratio (by weight) of the lipid content of these apolipoproteins. No preferential absorption of PBB congeners occurred in the examined blood compartments.on leave from Department of Chemistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4067, Australia     

Insecticidal and neuroexcitant actions of DDT analogs on the cockroach,Periplaneta americana

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) was used to test 14 DDT analogs for their ability to cause a) death and b) repetitive firing in the abdominal nerve cord. P,p-DDT, p,p-DDD, p,p-methoxychlor, and o,p-DDT were all found to induce repetitive firing in the nerve cord after a twice threshold stimulus, but only p,p-DDT, p,p-DDD, and p,p-methoxychlor produced mortality within 4 days from injection of the pesticides. Also, cockroaches exposed to sublethal doses of p,p-DDT and p,p-methoxychlor were found to exhibit repetitive firing in the abdominal nerve cord three weeks after injection of the pesticide. The cause and effect relationship between neuroexcitation and lethality is therefore questioned, at least in the case of cockroaches.     

Quality of life of caregivers in Parkinson’s disease

Objective: To assess the impact of PD on informal caregivers of patients and identify the main factors related to caregiver strain. Patients and methods: Pairs of PD patients and their caregivers. Evaluation by neurologists included the Hoehn and Yahr, Schwab and England, UPDRS (parts 1–3), ISAPD, and Pfeiffers SPMSQ rating scales. Patients completed the Euro-QoL 5D, PDQ-8, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The SQLC was used to assess caregivers quality of life (QoL), with caregivers, in turn, applying the Euro-QoL and PDQ-8 to assess patients health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Multiple linear regression models were fitted to ascertain factors linked to the SQLC. Results: Significant correlations were in evidence between the following scores: SQLC and clinical rating scales and SQLC and patients HRQoL. Based on multiple regression analysis, patients functional state (ADL) proved to be the main predictor of caregivers QoL. Self- and caregiver-assessed patients HRQoL also proved to be a relevant factor. Conclusions: (1) Patients functional state was significantly related to caregivers psychosocial burden; (2) patients HRQoL proved to be an additional factor linked to caregiver QoL; (3) improvement of patient disability and HRQoL might alleviate caregiver strain.     

Translating the Short-Form Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in 27 countries: Methodological and conceptual issues

The process of translating the Short-Form Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in 27 countries and the comparability of the content of the translations is discussed. HIT-6 translations were developed using a standard forward–backward translation process, including a cognitive debriefing step and international harmonization of the translations. Prior to translating the HIT-6, modifications were made to the English-language source form, to improve translation equivalence. In general, the HIT-6 was not difficult to translate. The most difficult items included colloquial expressions such as fed up and words whose intended meaning changed in translation such as school or lie down. Subjects generally found the HIT-6 translations to be clear and relevant. The translation process resulted in questionnaires that are both culturally appropriate and comparable in content.     

Organochlorine pesticide contaminations in human milk samples from women living in Amman,Jordan

Concentrations of 15 organochlorine pesticides were determined by capillary gas chromatography in 59 human milk samples collected from the general population during 1989/1990 in the Jordanian capital of Amman. In addition to hexachlorbenzene (HCB), three groups of organochlorine compounds namely, DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorcyclohexane (HCH-isomers) and the cyclopentadiene group (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and heptachlor epoxide) were analyzed.The results show that almost all samples contained HCB, -HCH, p,p-DDE and p,p-DDT, whereas p,p-DDD, heptachlor, -HCH, -HCH and o,pDDT were found in 42, 40, 33, 22 and 20 analyzed samples, respectively. The concentration of HCB, -HCH, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and heptachlor expressed on a milk-fat basis (median in mg/kg milk fat): 0.29, 0.4, 2.04, and 0.7 respectively.For the comparative purposes and in order to try to find the possible sources of mother-milk contaminations, different types of locally produced and imported cow milk samples were also analyzed for the same organochlorine compounds. Almost all types of tested milk were contaminated with p,p-DDE.     

Comparative toxicokinetics of 2,2′- and 4,4′-dichlorobiphenyls in the pond snailLymnaea stagnalis (L.)

Pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis (L.)) were treated with 2,2-dichlorobiphenyl (DCB) or 4,4-DCB, to examine the toxicokinetic profile of these compounds. Snails were treated orally with 210 g 4,4-DCB (impregnated on food) for 14 hr, or snails were injected with 50 g of 2,2-DCB or 4,4-DCB in the foot. At different times after starting feeding or injection, tissues (albumen gland, digestive gland and digestive tube, central nervous system, remainder parts), hemolymph and faeces were analyzed for unchanged 2,2- or 4,4-DCB. The results showed that in case of oral administration of 4,4-DCB after 144 hr, 97.5% of the dose was excreted unchanged in the faeces. During the first 48 hr 4,4-DCB was found in all tissues. Thereafter, an exponential elimination was found (the rate constant of elimination (k_el) varied from 0.010–0.021 per hr, t_1/2 from 33–60 hr and the apparent clearance from 0.02–0.3 g/hr for the different tissues). After injection, the compounds were found in all the above mentioned tissues, especially in the digestive gland. There was a clear difference between snails injected with 2,2- and 4,4-DCB. Firstly, k_el for 2,2-DCB was higher (0.028 per hr vs 4,4-DCB: 0.001 per hr). Secondly, 2,2-DCB was lethal; 63% of the animals died after 72 hr.     

Effects of thyroidectomy on the storage of organochlorine insectisides

Summary Rats submitted to p,p-DDT at 200 ppm in drinking water showed increased p, p-DDT storage which was not statistically different from that of thyroidectomized rats receiving p, p-DDT. Rats receiving p, p-DDT also showed increased fat storage of total o, p-DDT and Dieldrin and decreased total BHC storage.Thyroidectomy decreased the amount of p, p-DDT naturally occurring in the animal body and raised the metabolization of this compound.In thyroidectomized rats submitted to the same dosage of p, p-DDT, increased storage of p, p-DDT, o, p-DDT and Dieldrin was found. A statistically significant increase in BHC was also observed.It is concluded that p, p-DDT in the diet may affect the storage level of other organochlorine insecticides depending on its concentration, and that the physiopathological state of the body, e. g. thyroidectomy has a definite influence on the storage of organochlorine insecticides in the animal body and on their biological effect.     

Assessing Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS)

This article describes development of a quality of life measure designed to assess issues relevant to long-term cancer survivors. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 long-term cancer survivors to identify domains most relevant to long-term survivors ( 5 years post-diagnosis). Self-report items were developed from these interviews and administered to a second sample of 242 long-term survivors. Domains and items were selected from the item pool by a combination of factor analysis and criterion-based item selection. Five cancer-specific domains were identified (appearance concerns, financial problems, distress over recurrence, family-related distress, and benefits of cancer) along with seven generic QOL domains (negative feelings, positive feelings, cognitive problems, sexual problems, physical pain, fatigue, and social avoidance). Cronbachs was 0.72 or greater for each domain. Correlations between domain scores and criterion measures were 0.72 or higher in all but one generic domain (social avoidance), but somewhat lower on cancer-specific domains. The new multidimensional measure has good internal consistency and validity and is appropriate for comparisons between cancer and non-cancer populations, as well as long-term follow-up of cancer patients.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in maternal adipose tissue,blood, milk,and cord blood from mothers and their infants living in Norway

Samples of maternal blood, milk, and umbilical cord blood were collected from mothers and their infants at Ullevål University Hospital in Oslo, Norway. All the mothers had lived in Oslo during the last two years. Of the Norwegian mothers, 16 were delivered by Caesarean operation, and samples of subcutaneous fat tissues were collected. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),p,p-DDE,p,p-DDT, and dieldrin were found in 157, 135, 168, 22, and 12, respectively, of the 168 samples analyzed, while , and -hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were found in 93 and 26, respectively, of the 152 samples analyzed for these compounds. In the samples obtained from the Norwegian mothers and infants, PCBs andp,p-DDE were the major contaminants present. In contrast, only traces of PCBs were found in six immigrant samples, which, however, contained 4–6 times higher levels ofp,p-DDE plusp,p-DDT than the corresponding Norwegian samples. Of the HCH isomers, the -HCH was the predominant isomer present. Two to three times significantly higherp,p-DDE and PCBs levels were found in maternal serum than cord serum. No significant differences were found between the organochlorine residue levels in subcutaneous fat and milk fat. A significant positive linear correlation was found between the levels ofp,p-DDE and PCBs in maternal serum and in milk fat, and between the levels ofp,p-DDE in maternal serum and cord serum from Norwegian mothers giving birth normally.Significantly higher PCBs andp,p-DDE residues were found in the maternal and cord serum samples obtained after Caesarean operation than after normal delivery, while no other such differences were found in the milk samples 5 days post partum.The results demonstrate that organochlorines are transferred from mother to fetus and newborn babies through the placenta and milk and that human milk is a good indicator in monitoring human beings and their environment for organochlorine contamination. Possible toxicological implications of the present results are discussed.     

Pesticide residues in human colostrum: Seasonal variations,Yugoslavia

Levels of HCH, HCH, HCH,o,pDDE,p,pDDE andp,pDDT were measured in 59 samples of colostrum collected in the autumn 1982 and the spring 1983 from healthy nursing mothers on the third day after delivery. Pesticide residues were identified and quantitated on a gas chromatograph. Concentrations of HCH were significantly higher in the autumn (mean, 1.71g/L) than in the spring (0.67g/L), while concentrations of HCH were significantly lower in the autumn (0.49g/L) than in the spring (1.50g/L). The differences between the two seasons were not statistically significant for HCH (0.95 g/L vs 0.88g/L),o,pDDE (0.73g/L vs 1.34g/L),p,pDDE (68.63g/L vs 53.72g/L) andp,pDDT (20.00 (g/L vs 14.29 (g/L).Calculated average daily HCH (Lindane) intake of 0.04g/kg body wt (b.w.) and total DDT intake of 4.16 (/kg b.w. in a 3.5 kg newborn, ingesting 60 ml/kg b.w. of colostrum on the third day of life was below the upper limit of FAO/WHO Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) (0.01 mg/kg b.w. for Lindane and 0.005 mg/kg b.w. for DDT) in the spring. In the autumn, Lindane intake of 1.10k/kg b.w. was below the FAO/WHO ADI and total DDT intake of 5.36 g/kg b.w. was slightly above the FAO/WHO ADI.     

Translation,cultural adaptation,and initial reliability and multitrait testing of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life instrument for use in Japan

Background: The Kidney Disease Quality of Life instrument (KDQOL) consists of 79 items: 36 asking about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in general (the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36) and 43 asking about QOL as it is affected by kidney disease and by dialysis. Aim: Translation, cultural adaptation and initial reliability and multitrait testing of the KDQOL for use in Japan. Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation began with two translations into Japanese, two backtranslations into English, and discussions among the translators, the project coordinators in Japan, and the developers of the original (US-English) version. Focus-group discussions and field testing were followed by analyses of test–retest reliability, internal consistency, and convergent and discriminant construct validity. Results: All eight of the SF-36 scales met the criterion for internal consistency (Cronbach's ranged from 0.73 to 0.92) and were reproducible (intraclass correlations between test and retest scores ranged from 0.60 to 0.82). Of the 10 kidney-disease-targeted scales, only two had coefficients of less than 0.70: sleep (0.61) and quality of social interaction (0.35). One item on the quality of social interaction scale had a very weak correlation with the remainder of that scale (r = 0.10). Eliminating that item from scoring increased the coefficient of the scale from 0.35 to 0.64. All three items on the quality of social interaction scale had very strong correlations with other scales. Conclusions: First, in Japanese patients receiving dialysis the SF-36 scales are internally consistent and their scores are reproducible. Second, with the possible exception of the quality of social interaction scale, the Japanese version of the KDQOL,can provide psychometrically sound kidney-disease-targeted data on quality of life in such patients.     

Disposition of β-hexachlorocyclohexane,p,p′-DDT,and trans-chlordane administered subcutaneously to monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

To evaluate skin lipid analysis for the accumulation level of environmental pollutants, the correlations between organochlorine pesticide residues in adipose tissue, blood, and skin lipids of monkeys were studied. The mixture of -hexachlorocyclohexane (-HCH), p,p-DDT, and trans-chlordane was subcutaneously given to monkeys once weekly for 5 weeks at dose levels of 1 and 10 mg/kg. The chemicals distributed in adipose tissue, blood, and skin lipids were determined six times after the last dosing at intervals of 4 to 9 weeks.Oxychlordane and p,p-DDE were detected in all tissues together with the administered chemicals. In blood and adipose tissue, trans-chlordane decreased rapidly and oxychlordane and p,p-DDE increased gradually and then remained at constant levels. -HCH and p,p-DDT in adipose tissue increased until the 12th week and then decreased in all animals. The correlation coefficients between blood and adipose tissue regardless of dose level and collection time for each chemical ranged from 0.83 to 0.94. Correlation coefficients between skin lipids and adipose tissue varied with the chemical, namely, 0.31, 0.72, 0.81, 0.81, and 0.83 for p,p-DDE, tras-chlordane, p,p-DDT, -HCH, and oxychlordane, respectively. The results indicated that skin lipid analysis may be useful for the evaluation of specific pollutants in the body burden.     

Effects of nabam on developingXenopus laevis embryos: Minimum concentration,biological stability,and degradative products

This study was carried out to determine 1) the minimum concentration at which the fungicide ethylenebisdithiocarbamate disodium salt (nabam) would induce malformations in developingXenopus laevis embryos, 2) whether nabam in solution retained toxicological and teratogenic effects over long periods of time, 3) to compare the toxic and teratogenic effects of nabam's degradative products ethylene thiourea and ethylene diamine, 4) to compare toxic and teratogenic effects of the related substances methyl isothiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate, and 5) to compare the effects of combinations of these substances.Xenopus laevis embryos at yolk plug stage (Nieukoop and Faber stages 10–12) were exposed to various concentrations of fresh and one- to seven-week old nabam solutions, ethylene thiourea, ethylene diamine, methyl isothiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, and combinations of some of these substances. Fresh nabam solutions induced malformations of the notochord in a majority of embryos at concentrations as low as 40 g/L. Embryos treated with 40 g/L nabam stored 1–7 weeks developed normally. Embryos treated with 100 g/L nabam stored 1–7 weeks developed severe malformations of the notochord, delayed pigmentation of the eye, and increased mortality. In addition, embryos exposed to 100 g/L nabam stored 4–7 weeks also experienced delayed development of the gut and a general decrease in size. Embryos exposed to fresh 100 g/L nabam solutions developed only malformations of the notochord. Concentrations of methyl isothiocyanate of less than 1.0 g/L were sublethal. Methyl isothiocyanate (1.0–1,000 g/L) was extremely toxic with 100% mortality recorded by day 7 in all groups. Sodium thiocyanate, ethylene thiourea, and ethylene diamine (100–10,000 g/L) were neither toxic nor teratogenic. Combinations of ethylene thiourea and methyl isothiocyanate at or beyond 5,000 g/L, or 1.0 g/L respectively were acutely lethal. At concentrations of 100–1,000 /L ethylene thiourea and 0.01–0.1 g/L methyl isothiocyanate, the tadpoles that hatched had swollen and kinked notochords, similar to animals exposed to fresh 40 g/L nabam. Thus, the aquatic environment when contaminated with very low levels of the fungicide nabam is hazardous to the development of amphibian embryos.     

Chromatographic determination of dicofol and metabolites in egg yolks

Egg yolk was spiked withp,p-dicofol (p,p-DCF) (0.1–2.0 g/gm),p,p-dichlorobenzophenone (p,p-DCBP) (0.1–2.0 (g/gm), and 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (p,p- DDE) (0.05–1.0 g/gm). The fortified egg yolk (2–5 g) was mixed with acetonitrile to extract non-fat organic materials. After removal of acetonitrile, the spiked chemicals were separated with a column chromatograph packed with acid alumina. Recovery efficiencies forp,p-DCBP andp,p-DDE were determined by gas chromatography, and forp,p-dicofol by high performance liquid chromatography. The recovery efficiencies forp,p-dicofol,p,p-DCBP andp,p-DDE were 77.2–93.8%, 84.1–101.1%, and 88.5–96.0%, respectively.     

Rethinking Our Understanding of the Resident Group in Group Care

The author of this article lived in two residential homes in order to understand, and create a model of, the residents' social group. By understanding the way in which the group grants power to its members and the beliefs and actions which it values, residential staff have the opportunity to identify and support positive individual and group behaviours. It is a model which starts from the group rather than imposing our adult notions of how young people should behave. The way in which the everyday activities of young people, for example their use of humour, serves to maintain group expectations, organisations and relationships, should not be overlooked but rather identified, understood and encouraged.     

Education,motivation for learning,and social competence of 6-year-olds in kindergarten in Denmark and the United States

On the basis of ethnological research methods, the everyday life of one Danish and one American kindergarten class in school is described. In the American kindergarten class teaching of the three Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) is predominant, whereas play constitutes the life in the Danish classroom. The study shows that the American teacher-controlled academic practice and the children's concrete cultural background contribute to the development of motivation for learning at the age of 6 years. On the other hand, the American children are very egocentric and have difficulties in participating in group activities. In contrast, the more child-controlled practice in the Danish kindergarten develops social competence but neglects the development of motivation for learning. With comprehensive development as the educational aim, neither the American teacher-controlled academic practice nor the Danish child-controlled play approach is quite adequate, which calls for a new paradigm in early childhood education.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs),p,p′-DDE and hexachlorobenzene in human milk in three areas of upstate New York

Forty human milk samples from women in an urban and a rural vicinity on Lake Ontario (Rochester and Oswego) and a mixed urban and rural location on the Hudson River (Albany), New York, were analyzed for 74 PCB congeners,p,p-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, and mirex in order to determine the intake of breast-fed infants. All of the compounds were detected in the samples, but only eight PCB congeners andp,p-DDE accounted for 88% of the chlorinated hydrocarbons detected.p,p-DDE was the predominant pollutant (mean 78 ng/g wet weight), but the levels detected were low compared with the results from other parts of North America. Eight individual PCB congeners comprise 52% of the total PCB residue (mean 26.5 ng/g of whole milk); they ranged in mean concentration from 3.2 ng/g (2,4,5,2,4,5-hexachlorobiphenyl) to 1 ng/g (2,3,4,3,4-pentachlorobiphenyl). Statistical correlation analysis among PCB congeners indicates a possible higher exposure to less chlorinated congeners at Oswego than at Albany.